A discussion of characteristics of a healthy department Larry Abele Institute for Academic Leadership May 2016

A Healthy Department Define academic department: an administrative unit within a college or university composed of faculty in the same or related disciplines. Departmental faculty are responsible for performing teaching, research and service identifying the essential knowledge and courses necessary to certify that a student is competent in the discipline and should be awarded a degree. Define healthy: a healthy academic department is one in which faculty members are engaged in fully performing their individual assignments and fulfilling the department mission to the best of their abilities with shared aspiration to high performance. 

Characteristics of a healthy department You, your colleagues, staff and students enjoy coming in every day. Individuals are supportive of one another and are collegial as well as civil. Collegial: Relating to or involving shared responsibility as among a group of colleagues (OED).

Some areas to consider Governance and communication Educational issues Intellectual/scholarly/creative issues Staff relations Collegial issues University relationships

Governance and communication General support of chair Transparency of all actions. including the budget and allocations Availability and understanding of By-laws Regular faculty/committee meetings with timely agendas Operational strategic plan with easily measured and understood metrics

Educational Issues Undergraduate Graduate Discipline society for UGs Research opportunities Up to date curriculum Academic Maps with Milestone courses listed Graduate Yearly evaluation process Process for graduate student assignment Participation in graduate education by faculty Preparing graduates for job interviews

Collegial Issues Balance of ranks/ages Balance of effort Regular recognition Gathering site Conference/travel opportunities Socials for faculty members and spouses Mentoring in place Welcoming / transition processes

Intellectual/Scholarly/Creative Issues On going journal/book club with faculty and student participation Regular seminar series with talks given by visitors and faculty Faculty awards committee to monitor available awards and to nominate appropriate faculty and students

Staff Relations Public recognition of the valuable contributions of staff through awards and ceremonies A process to review staff classification and salaries

University Issues Strategic sense of participation in university wide governance Understanding of the relationship between the legislature and university An understanding of the university’s and Board of Trustees and Board of Governors priorities

Do you consider your department to be healthy? Thank you

a healthy department should be one in which faculty members are engaged in fully performing their individual and department missions to the best of their abilities with shared aspiration to high performance.